Talking Points....
9/8/2026
This week's discussion will focus on God's uncovering series to Pastor Doug for our church, "Why is This Happening?"
I. Part 2.
A. God created pain because He loves us.
1. Pain is there to help us from hurting ourselves more.
2. Don't ignore the pain.
3. How has ignoring pain caused more problems for you?
B. Why did God create suffering?
1. He didn't.
2. Suffering entered the world when sin did.
3. God is good.
4. Psalm 34:8 - Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
5. Psalm 100:5 - For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
6. James 1:17 - Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
7. If God was good once, He still is.
8. Why do we so often forget that God is good, even in our suffering?
C. Paul was in a bad season.
1. Acts 27:18-26 - The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
2. When we are going through a rough season, how can we be an encouragement to others?
D. Paul's bad situation got seemingly worse.
1. Acts 28:3-5 - As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.
2. He shook it off.
3. What things do you find helpful for shaking off a bad situation?
E. A bad season isn't necessarily your fault.
1. Just because you are going through something, doesn't mean you did something to cause it.
2. Share a bad situation you dealt with that wasn't your fault, and how you and others ended up experiencing God because of it.
F. Problems are God's opportunity.
1. If you didn't experience problems in life, would you love God as much as you do? If you looked at your problems as opportunities for Him, would you love Him more?
G. What the devil means for harm, God knows how to use it for His glory and purpose.
1. Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
2. What attitude should we have when the devil attacks us, knowing that God will make it in to something good?
H. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "Why is This Happening?"
This week's discussion will focus on God's uncovering series to Pastor Doug for our church, "Why is This Happening?"
I. Part 2.
A. God created pain because He loves us.
1. Pain is there to help us from hurting ourselves more.
2. Don't ignore the pain.
3. How has ignoring pain caused more problems for you?
B. Why did God create suffering?
1. He didn't.
2. Suffering entered the world when sin did.
3. God is good.
4. Psalm 34:8 - Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
5. Psalm 100:5 - For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
6. James 1:17 - Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
7. If God was good once, He still is.
8. Why do we so often forget that God is good, even in our suffering?
C. Paul was in a bad season.
1. Acts 27:18-26 - The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
2. When we are going through a rough season, how can we be an encouragement to others?
D. Paul's bad situation got seemingly worse.
1. Acts 28:3-5 - As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed.
2. He shook it off.
3. What things do you find helpful for shaking off a bad situation?
E. A bad season isn't necessarily your fault.
1. Just because you are going through something, doesn't mean you did something to cause it.
2. Share a bad situation you dealt with that wasn't your fault, and how you and others ended up experiencing God because of it.
F. Problems are God's opportunity.
1. If you didn't experience problems in life, would you love God as much as you do? If you looked at your problems as opportunities for Him, would you love Him more?
G. What the devil means for harm, God knows how to use it for His glory and purpose.
1. Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
2. What attitude should we have when the devil attacks us, knowing that God will make it in to something good?
H. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message "Why is This Happening?"